Tomatoes on the balcony or windowsill in winter

Tomatoes on the balcony can be grown by following a number of simple requirements. Costs will be minimal, and the growing process is similar to the greenhouse method in the garden. But there are a few differences.

Requirements for the room

This culture is demanding for a warm climate. Therefore, the cultivation of tomatoes should be carried out in a well-isolated room, able to maintain room temperature at any time of the year, even with strong frosts. Balcony or loggia should be of high quality glazed, the gap between the frames and openings filled with insulating material.

Modern plastic windows are ideal for maintaining the right temperature, and growing tomatoes with them will not cause problems. These types of windows also provide an easy way of airing, which is also important for a growing vegetable.

These plants are very light-loving, so tomatoes on the balcony should receive an adequate level of illumination. The presence of sunlight at least 4 hours a day in a place where the home beds are located is already suitable for growth and the formation of fruits. The best option for the influx of light, if the loggia goes to the south-east side. If the side is south-west, there may be excess heat, especially during the summer heat. By the way, it is necessary to ventilate the room, at least half an hour a day - growing bushes need an influx of oxygen. But a well-glazed balcony leading to the north side may also come up.

Some home gardeners produce the cultivation of tomatoes on the windowsill. This option is suitable if the balcony is missing or the window in the apartment is more suitable for its location due to the influx of sunlight.

The advantages of this method are obvious - a comfortable temperature for growing is always maintained in the apartment, no effort is needed for this.

But the disadvantage will be in clutter and reduction of useful living space in the room. In addition, this method can disturb the cleanliness of the room, there will always be an increased level of dust in the room.

Before you grow tomatoes on the windowsill, you need to remember that in the dark any plant produces carbon dioxide, and its overabundance is harmful to health.

Necessary conditions for growth

Grow tomatoes on a window or a well-insulated balcony can be subject to the following conditions:

• selected quality seeds and suitable varieties of tomatoes;
• the microclimate suitable for growth is provided;
• a suitable soil has been selected for the plants;
• for tomatoes the correct capacity is chosen;
• ensured the flow of light and airing;
• watering is done on time.

You should also comply with the requirements for cultivation, which are similar to the greenhouse method at the dacha: sprouting and fertilizing seedlings, washing the soil with potassium permanganate, protecting against fungal diseases, garter of large shrubs.

Selection of seed varieties

Tomatoes on the balcony or windowsill can be grown from the seeds of the following varieties of tomatoes:

• Leningrad early;
• Soil gribovsky 1180;
• Firstborn 190;
• Peremoga 165;
• Pear-shaped cream;
• Sonata;
• Siberian early;
• White filling.

You can choose not one, but several varieties for one season. So it will be easier to determine which variety will be the most suitable for apartment cultivation.

Choosing the right soil and capacity

Tomatoes on the balcony are grown in containers of 3-5 liters, which are separate for each bush. You can use plastic buckets, plastic vases, but clay pots are best suited. As for seedlings, transparent plastic cups are best suited to germinate from seeds.

Soil for tomato is selected from the following options:

• ready soil mix "Tomato and Pepper";
• ready soil mixture "Exo";
• peat, manure, humus and sod land in equal proportions;
• peat, sand and leaf soil in proportions of 1: 1: 2.

It is useful to fertilize any of these mixtures with a small handful of wood ash and / or a teaspoon of superphosphate. You can use the land collected in their summer cottage or garden, but it is worth to ensure that the soil was not too clay.

Microclimate provision

For a comfortable growth of tomatoes, it is necessary to maintain a temperature of 25 ° C during the daytime and 15 ° C at night. It is good to have a thermometer in order to monitor the maintenance of temperature. If the temperature is appropriate outside, then it is best to keep the windows open, especially since this plant is resistant to drafts. And the extra fresh air never hurts.

Tomatoes in the apartment will optimally grow with 9-10 hours of regular flow of natural sunlight. If it is missing, it is possible to use special fluorescent lamps or phytolamps for additional lighting.

The use of artificial light sources is less efficient, but it helps to grow tomatoes on a window sill in winter, when daylight hours are very short, and cloudless weather may not be observed for weeks.

Growing tomatoes on the balcony (video)

Plant Care

Before you grow tomatoes on the balcony, you need to prepare the seeds and seedlings. Before germinating seeds, they are kept for half an hour in a solution of potassium permanganate 10 g per 1 liter of water, then washed. After that they can be placed in a glass for seedlings.

For seedlings, the same type of soil is used as for bushes, but it should be treated with boiling water or a solution of potassium permanganate for disinfection. Watering is carried out 1 time in 8-10 days.

Transplanting seedlings in flowerpots occurs 10-15 days after germination of seeds. After that, you need to wait 10 days and make the first dressing with liquid sodium humate, urea, or Effekton. This process must subsequently be repeated every 10 days. Watering tomato bushes in flowerpots may depend on the degree of drying of the soil and humidity, but the optimal time is every 3 days. Water should be at room temperature.

To protect against fungal diseases associated with increased moisture, it is necessary to spray bushes Bordeaux mixture. During the flowering period, it is desirable to stimulate the process of pollination by lightly tapping on the stems of the plant. After the fruit strings, the top of the bush should be slightly plucked. When the fruit is already large enough, the plant is tied up in order to avoid breakage of the stems.

Growing tomatoes in the winter at home is not that difficult, especially if you have experience caring for these plants in your summer cottage. The principles of all procedures and the necessary equipment are almost the same. And if you do this for several seasons in a row, without fear of experimenting, you can harvest a wonderful crop of tomatoes at home on your balcony.

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Gallery: growing tomatoes on the balcony (15 photos)